Newcastle have captured the signing of versatile Ajax midfielder Vurnon Anita
on a long term contract for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old Dutch international has signed a five-year deal at the Sport Direct Arena in time for the club's first match of the season against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, with the fee believed to be around £6.7million.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said the club were delighted to secure his services and expects him to have his best years at the club.

"He is an exceptionally talented footballer with great technical ability, which is exactly what I'm looking at in a player, Pardew said.

"He has come through the Ajax youth system which is world renowned for bringing up players the right way, and I am sure he will fit seamlessly into the squad of players we have here.

"Vurnon has done his pre-season, and indeed already played one competitive game, so he's up to speed and ready to play when I need him."

Anita, who can also play as a full-back, joined the Ajax youth academy in 1999 and made his first-team debut in 2006 before winning back-to-back Eredivisie titles in 2011 and 2012.

He is Alan Pardew's fourth major signing of the summer after signing Reims' French attacking midfielder Romain Amalfitano, Australian centre back Curtis Good and Burundian midfielder Gael Bigirimana from Coventry City, as Newcastle seek to build on their fifth-place finish last year.